Now that Mother Nature put me in my place …again with snow, no snow, rain, ice, 50 degree temperatures, near zero temperatures repeatedly, I’ve had enough and decided to slug out the next couple of months anticipating the trout opener- the last Saturday in April - by preparing. What that means of course, is I’m acting like a kid trying to cram for a mid-term the night before the exam. I can’t read enough magazines, books, catalogs and all things trout fishing.

So truly believing that misery needs company, I hang around others lollygagging in search of that magic potion that will ease the pain until that day – or at least until temperatures warm to the point of being able to stand a baptizing in the Jordan – and the books and magazines go back on the shelf and the “fish car” is re-stocked with “essentials” to begin fulfilling that ritualistic New year’s resolution of promising to fish more.

Someone once said “having someone fish close behind you is like having someone look over your shoulder when writing a letter to your girlfriend.” Think about it, fishing really isn’t a spectator sport. But at this time of year it takes on the appearance of being a spectator sport with well attended events like The Ultimate Fishing Show, now a memory, Outdoorama, coming this month and the king of all fly fishing shows, “The Midwest Fly Fishing Expo”. These events serve to ease the transition from bird hunting to fly fishing.

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I recently had the privilege of attended the quarterly board meeting of Michigan Trout Unlimited in Bath. It was evident I wasn’t alone in my yearning to fish. The basic difference between us was, the TU chapters were gearing up to improve Michigan’s fishery, and while I was game to help, my thoughts were my being able to stand in a river with my 4-weight in hand, throwing a Henny.

Another exception to fly fishing not being a spectator sport is of course, when passing it on. In that vein, Trout Unlimited is once again holding a Youth Trout Camp, hosted by The Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of T U. The camp is for boys and girls 12-16 years of age and is held at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Ralph A. MacMullen Conference Center on the North Shore of Higgins Lake with fishing and field work on the Au Sable River. The all-volunteer staff includes TU members, fly fishing professionals, and scientists from Western Michigan University, Trout Unlimited and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Attendance is limited to 20 campers and applications are due by May 31. For more information, to apply, volunteer or donate to this year’s Trout Camp, contact your local TU chapter or Greg Potter at: 269-963-0709 (day) or 269-781-5700 (nights) or email him at: gregapotter@att.net.

Last year’s camp was a huge success. This year will be even better, but spots are first come first serve. Check it out soon.

It wouldn’t be February if there weren’t banquets to attend. The Clinton Valley Chapter of TU is holding their annual banquet on Saturday, March 23, 2012 at the River Crest Banquet Facility located at 900 W. Avon Rd. in Rochester 48307.

This is their conservation banquet, the proceeds of which allow CVTU to fund their activities which include river clean-ups and restoration projects throughout the year along Paint Creek and the Clinton River. Go to their website at www.clintonvaleytu.com for more information.

For something completely free and more immediate, the Michigan Fly Fishing Club will host Josh Greenberg, of Gate’s Au Sable Lodge fame on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at Clarenceville Middle School in Novi (Middlebelt just south of 8Mile).

Josh puts on a great presentation and can answer any questions anyone may have about this year’s fishing on the ”Holy Water.” It will also give those who have been wondering what MFFC was all about an opportunity to see firsthand.

On another note: despite your dog’s exuberance to be outdoors, ice balls can form between their toes and it can be painful. You probably won’t know it until they come indoors and act like they’re trying to bite their toes off. When you check them out, you’ll feel the hard ice that formed.

A preventative measure is to rub Vaseline or other petroleum jelly on their paws prior to taking them into deep snow. It’s messy but it works. Last week, Up North, Seamus laid down in the middle of a field trying to bite ice balls from his feet. I knew better and Seamus suffered for it.